The Canterbury Tales: The Knight's Tale Love Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Line)

Quote #13

Thus may ye seen, that wysdom ne richesse,Beautee ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardynesse,Ne may with Venus holde champartie,For as hir list, the world than may she gye.Lo, alle thise folk so caught were in hir las,Til they for wo ful ofte seyde 'allas!'(1089-1094)

This passage confirms Theseus's depiction of love as the object that trumps all others: not even wisdom, riches, beauty, deception, strength, or endurance can win out over love. The examples on the wall of Venus's temple prove this through telling the stories of those who gave up everything for love, some without successfully winning it.